11th interview

Today my collaborator Paul Thibault and I have conducted a fourth video-recorded interview in Rendalen - at Åkrestrømmen. This brings the total numbers of interviews in the subproject "Representations of Large Mammals especially Wolves" (part of the research project "Animals in changing environments: Cultural mediation and semiotic analysis") up to 11, after 3 of 5 field works have been conducted.

Meeting in Rendalen

Today I have met, along with my collaborator Paul Thibault, with the outfield consultant in Rendalen municipality.

Three interviews conducted in Rendalen

Today, along with my collaborator Paul Thibault, I´ve conducted three interviews in Rendalen, Hedmark, as part of the research project "Animals in changing environments: Cultural mediation and semiotic analysis", specifically the subproject "Representations of Large Mammals especially Wolves". This brings the total so far up to 10 interviews, and some 8-9 hours of video recordings.

Three field trips arranged

The last few days I have arranged field trips (travel, accommodation) to Koppang/Rendalen (May 13-16), Moss (May 27-30) and Stavanger (June 2-5) in relation to the research project "Animals in changing environments: Cultural mediation and semiotic analysis", more specifically the subproject "Representations (both Problematic and Romanticizing) of Large Mammals, especially Wolves". Paul Thibault and I will conduct video-recorded interviews (which are consequently to be catalogued by Laura Kiiroja).

So far we have conducted a pilot study and a field trip to Kautokeino.

Wolf lecture in Rendalen scheduled for June 6

My lecture in Rendalen (in the Norwegian county of Hedmark, a municipality just outside the wolf zone) has been scheduled for June 6th at 7-9 pm (this replaces a previous note). The topic of my talk is "Hvorfor konflikten rundt ulv og sau har blitt så hissig: Ulv og sau som symbol og realitet" [Why the conflict on wolves and sheep has become so /fierce/heated/: Wolves and sheep as symbol and reality]. Thomas Strømseth of Hedmark University College will give a lecture at the same event, on hunting dogs. The event will take place on Fagertun school, and is arranged by the project ROSAREN, which has been looking into local attitudes to large predators, and opportunities/consequences for local business.

***

Som utmarkskommune like utenfor ulvesonen har Rendalen en sentral plassering i debatten om norsk ulveforvaltning. I dette foredraget er temaet hvordan de mange kulturelle bildene av ulv og sau danner grunnlaget for debatten, og hvordan uenigheten i stor grad skyldes forskjellige natursyn. Både landskapet og opplevelsen av det er i endring i vår tid – og særlig vår endrede opplevelse av landskapet henger for en stor del sammen med utviklingen i norsk landbruk, som skaper frustrasjon og håpløshet i mange lokalmiljøer der småskala landbruk ennå er viktig. I løpet av foredraget skal vi blant annet se på natursynet til folk i Rendalen, og foredragsholderen vil også dele noen tanker om fremtiden.

Rendalen lecture: Title; date scheduled

My forthcoming lecture in Rendalen on Norwegian wolf management has been scheduled for May 8th. The title of my talk will likely (I am awaiting feedback) be "Hvorfor konflikten rundt ulv og sau har blitt så hissig: Ulv og sau som symbol og realitet" [Why the conflict on wolves and sheep has become so /fierce/heated/: Wolves and sheep as symbol and reality].

Lecture in Rendalen to be held in May

The lecture that I have earlier agreed to give in the municipality of Rendalen, on my analysis of Norwegian wolf management, will likely be held in May. Today I was asked what time I will be able to present. Specific date is still to be scheduled.

Pictures from my field trip to Rendalen and Stor-Elvdal

The book store at Koppang, Stor-Elvdal - "read about handicapped Emilie and her dramatic fight for survival in the wilderness of Østerdalen".

Koppangtunet hotel, Stor-Elvdal.

Rendalen municipality house (Bergset, Rendalen).

The public library at Koppang, Stor-Elvdal.

Rendalen (Åkrestrømmen).

Rendalen report

I have not yet reported from my field trip to Rendalen municipality in the Norwegian region of Hedmark, cf. post on plans (but the visit has already triggered both reflection and academic production, cf. my article 'Visjon 2040' and my research seminar presentation on the nature view and worldview of people in Rendalen).

The trip took place October 28 - November 2nd. The most important work carried out consisted in conducting 8 interviews, with:

• RENDALEN municipality

• Major

• Head of section for planning and business

• Consultant, agrigulture

• STOR-ELVDAL municipality

• Head of section for planning and business

• Head of RENDALEN REN (reindeer)

• Sheep farmer (and NGO representative), Rendalen

• Former sheep farmer couple, Rendalen

• State licenced wolf hunter, Stor-Elvdal

In Rendalen, I was particularly pleased to hear about ROSAREN, a project designed to look into the potential for local business dependent on, or not in conflict with, the presence of big carnivores including wolves.

The wolf wars: Vision 2040

The article-in-the-making I referred to a month ago, "Visjon 2040: Fra overlagt rovdrift til Utopi Buane" was finished, as a first draft at least, December 3rd (30.000 characters). Samtiden, the Norwegian general journal, once again responded quickly. They welcome a second, revised version of the text. If the revision goes according to plan (to be submitted early January), the article can hopefully be published in issue 2 or 3 of 2011.

Contents
* En hybrid forteller
* De to Norger
* Rendalen og verden
* Konspirasjon og kunnskap
* To natursyn
* Nederlagets symboler
* Levende bygder - på trygd
* Sannheten om sau og ulv
* Fra status quo til hva nå?
* Ikke mer skjebnetro!
* Rasjonelt og rasjonelt, fru Blom
* Rikdommens paradokser
* Norge 2040 (Utopi Buane)

Presentation given at second zoosemiotic research seminar

Today at 10.30-11 I presented 'The nature view and worldview of people in Rendalen municipality in the region of Hedmark', based on my field trip(s) this autumn, in the 2nd Research Seminar of Dynamical Zoosemiotics and Animal Representations.

There were five other talks - by my colleagues Timo Maran, Jelena Grigorjeva, Kadri Tüür, Silver Rattasepp and Nelly Mäekivi.

Topic for zoosemiotic research seminar

The regular research seminar of the research project Dynamical Zoosemiotics and Animal Representations will this autumn take place November 29th. The title of my 20m presentation, I have just settled, will be "The nature view and worldview of people in Rendalen municipality in the region of Hedmark".

In other words, I will be presenting some observations from my field trip to Rendalen/Stor-Elvdal, which concludes today.

This time the seminar will be for members of the research team only.

Field trip to Hedmark in preparation

My field trip to Rendalen, the one municipality in Norway where the wolf/sheep conflict has been the fiercest in political terms, is in preparation. Being the largest municipality in Southern Norway ("only" 600 km away) - more than 3.000 square kilometres, and populated by only 2.000 or so (people, that is) - planning how to get around from place to place has been a challenge. I've ended up arranging accommodation at three locations (including one in neighbouring Stor-Elvdal municipality):
* Rendalen Øiseth Hotell (Åkrestrømmen, Rendalen)
* Romenstad hytte- og gardsferie (Unset, Rendalen)
* Koppangtunet hotell (Koppang, Stor-Elvdal)

In addition to these three locations, I'll also be visiting Øvre Rendal/Bergset (Rendalen) and Evenstad (Stor-Elvdal). In other words I'll be visiting one region (Hedmark) - two municipalities - five villages.